This is a Playaround TAS of Digdug doing the "Sand Challenge" (Getting al of the sand) While doing outlandish stratigies that can realistically only work in a TAS
The goal is to Get all of the sand (Pretty self explanatory if you ask me) This run just completes stage 1 of the game.
I used FCEUX version 2.2.3 for this run.
This TAS took about 9 1/2 hours to complete. If you want to improve this TAS you would just have to do more outlandish stuff Probably in under 5 minutes still. and that is about it for the stuff you could do to improve the TAS. I would like to thank LightBlue (Ray) 2222 on YouTube for Doing The Sand Challenge on the Atari 5200 version of Digdug inspiring me to try doing it on the Famicom version and eventually to make this TAS. That is all I have.
feos: Hellow Overcomplicated With Dominic and welcome to TASVideos!
In order to get a submission published on our site, one needs to make a high quality TAS movie that meets our Movie Rules. See the TASing Guide for how to make such a TAS, and the Guidelines specifically.
Unfortunately, this movie can't be published, because it uses a goal that doesn't fit into the Standard class, yet it's not entertaining enough to the audience to be published to Moons. And it can't go to Playground either, because as mentioned in the thread, it doesn't look decently optimized, even if we define the goal as "sand challenge" instead of "playaround".
Joined: 11/14/2014
Posts: 927
Location: South Pole, True Land Down Under
I may be the odd ball here, but I never thought I would see the day where all the sand was removed from the play field.
I'm giving you a yes, only because I've had these kind of thoughts...wondering if it was possible.
When I played Mr. Do!, in my youth, I used to think of the same thing with that game as well. Now that I've seen this...I'm curious if that would also be possible.
I recently discovered that if you haven't reached a level of frustration with TASing any game, then you haven't done your due diligence.
----
SOYZA: Are you playing a game?
NYMX: I'm not playing a game, I'm TASing.
SOYZA: Oh...so its not a game...Its for real?
----
Anybody got a Quantum computer I can borrow for 20 minutes?
Nevermind...eien's 64 core machine will do. :)
----
BOTing will be the end of all games. --NYMX
I may be the odd ball here, but I never thought I would see the day where all the sand was removed from the play field.
I'm giving you a yes, only because I've had these kind of thoughts...wondering if it was possible.
When I played Mr. Do!, in my youth, I used to think of the same thing with that game as well. Now that I've seen this...I'm curious if that would also be possible.
I will see what I can do I would love to TAS Mr. Do! but I don't know which version I will pick what is your favorite version?
For your information, if you want to make a (temporary) encode in FCEUX, you may want to do the following steps to only capture the game portion of FCEUX:
https://fceux.com/web/help/AVICapturing.html
This TAS... I don't know...
- Outdated FCEUX version. TAS uses 2.2.3. FCEUX latest is 2.6.4
- Goal "Playaround": the TAS plays the very first level of the game and deletes the screen. I got similar feelings like watching a NES SMB Mario TAS with "maximum time" where they just waste time instead of doing something hard/impossible/unexpected/anything other than simply playing the game
- Route... you make too many backtracking (going through already deleted area), helping enemies to escape and be a hassle for yourself... definitely improvable a lot. The perfect strategy seems to be something along the lines:
1. 12 columns and 12 rows with a few already empty tiles and 4 enemies that able to go through walls sometimes and some powerups. You are supposed to clear the outer area first while going for the inside area or clearing sections in a circular fashion to empty the intersections.
2. The ending of the route should be touching the final tile while killing the enemy at the same time.
I'm going for a strong no primarily because the goal does makes no sense for me.
PhD in TASing 🎓 speedrun enthusiast ❤🚷🔥 white hat hacker ▓ black box tester ░ censorships and rules...
For your information, if you want to make a (temporary) encode in FCEUX, you may want to do the following steps to only capture the game portion of FCEUX:
https://fceux.com/web/help/AVICapturing.html
This TAS... I don't know...
- Outdated FCEUX version. TAS uses 2.2.3. FCEUX latest is 2.6.4
- Goal "Playaround": the TAS plays the very first level of the game and deletes the screen. I got similar feelings like watching a NES SMB Mario TAS with "maximum time" where they just waste time instead of doing something hard/impossible/unexpected/anything other than simply playing the game
- Route... you make too many backtracking (going through already deleted area), helping enemies to escape and be a hassle for yourself... definitely improvable a lot. The perfect strategy seems to be something along the lines:
1. 12 columns and 12 rows with a few already empty tiles and 4 enemies that able to go through walls sometimes and some powerups. You are supposed to clear the outer area first while going for the inside area or clearing sections in a circular fashion to empty the intersections.
2. The ending of the route should be touching the final tile while killing the enemy at the same time.
I'm going for a strong no primarily because the goal does makes no sense for me.
Okay thanks for the feedback! I see what you mean by going back through completed areas (Especially at the end) and I will try to improve that with your theoretical route as well.
The reason I didn't use the most recent version of FCEUX is because I couldn't get it to work on my computer put I will try some more and maybe I will get some better luck. Also that capturing thing I will look into as well
The reason I didn't use the most recent version of FCEUX is because I couldn't get it to work on my computer
Tell me what's the problem, I might can help you
The problem is when I try to run the program it just doesn't do anything at all no error or anything. I think I will try downloading every version of FCEUX in reverse chronological order until one works. That would be the newest one that can work on my computer
I assume you are using Windows x86 (32-bit) or x64 (64-bit).
The 2.2.3+ versions requires administrative access to the computer. Try to run it as administrator.
edit: Right-click over fceux.exe and select the Run as administrator option.
PhD in TASing 🎓 speedrun enthusiast ❤🚷🔥 white hat hacker ▓ black box tester ░ censorships and rules...
I assume you are using Windows x86 (32-bit) or x64 (64-bit).
The 2.2.3+ versions requires administrative access to the computer. Try to run it as administrator.
edit: Right-click over fceux.exe and select the Run as administrator option.
I have tried running it as administrator but it still does the same thing.
Please show me your log from your event viewer:
1. Click Start > Control Panel > System and Security > Administrative Tools
2. Double-click Event Viewer
edited, sorry for the stupid mistake :)
3. Go to Windows Logs > Application
4. Wait... this takes some time...
5. Press CTRL+F and type fceux.exe and click Find Next
This will show information only fceux.exe related. Repeat step 5 find next until you can find an error and please copy paste it.
PhD in TASing 🎓 speedrun enthusiast ❤🚷🔥 white hat hacker ▓ black box tester ░ censorships and rules...
Please show me your log from your event viewer:
1. Click Start > Control Panel > System and Security > Administrative Tools
2. Double-click Event Viewer
edited, sorry for the stupid mistake :)
3. Go to Windows Logs > Application
4. Wait... this takes some time...
5. Press CTRL+F and type fceux.exe and click Find Next
This will show information only fceux.exe related. Repeat step 5 find next until you can find an error and please copy paste it.
I found a log for fceux.exe but it is from 2 months ago so I don't think that is the one we are looking for but for if it is here is the log;
Log Name: Application
Source: Windows Error Reporting
Date: 2/22/2022 7:51:35 PM
Event ID: 1001
Task Category: None
Level: Information
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: batss-vostro
Description:
Fault bucket 128991540401, type 5
Event Name: RADAR_PRE_LEAK_32
Response: Not available
Cab Id: 0
Problem signature:
P1: fceux.exe
P2: 0.0.0.0
P3: 10.0.10586.2.0.0
P4:
P5:
P6:
P7:
P8:
P9:
P10:
Attached files:
C:\Users\Drew's Music Station\AppData\Local\Temp\RDR43EB.tmp\empty.txt
C:\Users\Drew's Music Station\AppData\Local\Temp\WER443A.tmp.WERInternalMetadata.xml
These files may be available here:
Analysis symbol:
Rechecking for solution: 0
Report Id: 81c57136-9453-11ec-9039-001fc68a891c
Report Status: 0
Hashed bucket: 55956eb2adb3f908b075d8acc9394511
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
<System>
<Provider Name="Windows Error Reporting" />
<EventID Qualifiers="0">1001</EventID>
<Level>4</Level>
<Task>0</Task>
<Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>
<TimeCreated SystemTime="2022-02-23T02:51:35.074461800Z" />
<EventRecordID>7810</EventRecordID>
<Channel>Application</Channel>
<Computer>batss-vostro</Computer>
<Security />
</System>
<EventData>
<Data>128991540401</Data>
<Data>5</Data>
<Data>RADAR_PRE_LEAK_32</Data>
<Data>Not available</Data>
<Data>0</Data>
<Data>fceux.exe</Data>
<Data>0.0.0.0</Data>
<Data>10.0.10586.2.0.0</Data>
<Data>
</Data>
<Data>
</Data>
<Data>
</Data>
<Data>
</Data>
<Data>
</Data>
<Data>
</Data>
<Data>
</Data>
<Data>
C:\Users\Drew's Music Station\AppData\Local\Temp\RDR43EB.tmp\empty.txt
C:\Users\Drew's Music Station\AppData\Local\Temp\WER443A.tmp.WERInternalMetadata.xml</Data>
<Data>
</Data>
<Data>
</Data>
<Data>0</Data>
<Data>81c57136-9453-11ec-9039-001fc68a891c</Data>
<Data>0</Data>
<Data>55956eb2adb3f908b075d8acc9394511</Data>
</EventData>
</Event>
I have tried to record directly from FCEUX with .AVI files but it makes the game have input lag of up to 2 seconds every 6 or 7 seconds so I think I will be sticking to OBS for the time being
Your computer is probably has one of the following problems:
- Virus infected computer. Run an anti-virus software. Here's a free one: https://www.clamav.net/
- Not enough system requirement. Please screenshot your Task Manager > Performance tab while FCEUX 2.2.3 running while you record it from FCEUX, not OBS.
- Missing crucial registry entries or system files. Try running:
sfc /scannow
According to that 2 months old event, you might have memory problem. Try running Memory Diagnostic Tool in Windows.
edit: I'm not sure which is exactly your problem, so start with you think to be the most likely to be the cause. Regarding the Event Viewer, you could also search it in Windows > System.
PhD in TASing 🎓 speedrun enthusiast ❤🚷🔥 white hat hacker ▓ black box tester ░ censorships and rules...
Your computer is probably has one of the following problems:
- Virus infected computer. Run an anti-virus software. Here's a free one: https://www.clamav.net/
- Not enough system requirement. Please screenshot your Task Manager > Performance tab while FCEUX 2.2.3 running while you record it from FCEUX, not OBS.
- Missing crucial registry entries or system files. Try running:
sfc /scannow
According to that 2 months old event, you might have memory problem. Try running Memory Diagnostic Tool in Windows.
edit: I'm not sure which is exactly your problem, so start with you think to be the most likely to be the cause. Regarding the Event Viewer, you could also search it in Windows > System.
Okay I have run the Memory Diagnostics and it came back with no errors.
also how do you share a screenshot on here? I have the screenshot with the task manager.
Joined: 11/14/2014
Posts: 927
Location: South Pole, True Land Down Under
Overcomplicated With Dominic wrote:
I will see what I can do I would love to TAS Mr. Do! but I don't know which version I will pick what is your favorite version?
sorry, never saw a notification for this.
My favorite version was Colecovision.
I recently discovered that if you haven't reached a level of frustration with TASing any game, then you haven't done your due diligence.
----
SOYZA: Are you playing a game?
NYMX: I'm not playing a game, I'm TASing.
SOYZA: Oh...so its not a game...Its for real?
----
Anybody got a Quantum computer I can borrow for 20 minutes?
Nevermind...eien's 64 core machine will do. :)
----
BOTing will be the end of all games. --NYMX
Joined: 4/17/2010
Posts: 11469
Location: Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg
Better encode:
Link to video
Sorry, this movie doesn't feel like a playaround to me, but rather like aimlessly wandering around while occasionally clearing the sand. Playaround involves showcasing game mechanics in obviously entertaining ways. Which mechanics does this movie showcase? If the goal is clearing the sand, then it needed to be done more optimally, without having to turn around and hit an enemy without killing it every once in a while. Leaving a lot of sand behind and running to another part of the screen, then leaving a lot of sand there and running back, looks like the speed was not the goal at all. Finally, if the goal was clearing the sand, it needed to be cleared in the whole game in my opinion (for games without an ending we define game completion when all new content has been completed).
For the above reasons, I can't accept this movie for publication, and I have doubts that it will make sense in the Playground class too.
Warning: When making decisions, I try to collect as much data as possible before actually deciding. I try to abstract away and see the principles behind real world events and people's opinions. I try to generalize them and turn into something clear and reusable. I hate depending on unpredictable and having to make lottery guesses. Any problem can be solved by systems thinking and acting.
Emulator Coder, Site Developer, Site Owner, Expert player
(3570)
Joined: 11/3/2004
Posts: 4754
Location: Tennessee
To me this isn't a playaround but rather a "clear the screen" goal. A goal that is arbitrary, but leads to a lot of potentially interesting strategies for doing it quickly. But this movie doesn't do those things quickly. I don't know if it would be interesting to do so, but I think it would be far more interesting and entertaining than this playaround, if it a TAS aimed to clear the screen in as few frames as possible.
Joined: 5/25/2007
Posts: 399
Location: New England
adelikat wrote:
To me this isn't a playaround but rather a "clear the screen" goal. A goal that is arbitrary, but leads to a lot of potentially interesting strategies for doing it quickly. But this movie doesn't do those things quickly. I don't know if it would be interesting to do so, but I think it would be far more interesting and entertaining than this playaround, if it a TAS aimed to clear the screen in as few frames as possible.
Agree with this. Would add that having played Dig Dug many times in the arcade, there is some intrigue/appeal to the bizarre goal but not really sure there's a permutation that really makes sense as a run on this site.
I have many times had an issue with FCEUX behaving as you describe following a crash of some sort (not on clean install). I traced my issue to the values below in fceux.cfg being set to some crazy number so the window is offscreen. Fixing the values and restarting fixes the issue for me.
MainWindow_wndx 140
MainWindow_wndy 115
Hello sorry I have been gone for awhile. I had to suddenly move and a family member that I am very close to has been having some health complications. So I will probably be gone for another while. Thanks for all of the suggestions for improving the TAS I will work on that as I feel motivated to do anything in my free time.
Cheers - Dominic
